The big-money movers must play it straight with the fans

DAVE and Nick’s ConDem mantra that we’re all in this together clearly does not extend to footy clubs who merrily shelled out £225 million last month – a record since the transfer window was installed in 2003 and a mere £195 million up on last year.

DAVE and Nick’s ConDem mantra that we’re all in this together clearly does not extend to footy clubs who merrily shelled out £225 million last month – a record since the transfer window was installed in 2003 and a mere £195 million up on last year.

We have all seen the big money players kissing badges, pledging allegiance to the fans and club they supported even in the womb and so on.

So when they move to another club, a club they again have always supported, etc, out trundles the justification.

The biggest losers in all this look like being Newcastle, who will be playing the rest of the season with just a bulging wallet wearing No.9 up front after losing ‘not for sale’ Andy Carroll with no time left to find a replacement.

Carroll, a player who wears controversy as a badge of honour, claims he was forced out – a somewhat liberal definition of the word.

In reality, the 22-year-old signed a five-year contract in October but, when big clubs started sniffing around, decided he wanted to bin that for a shiny new one with a few more noughts on the wages – or he was off.

Newcastle agreed summer talks – when their Prem status would be known – but Carroll stamped his feet, so was told to put it all in writing.

Not a lot of arm-twisting for him to leave there, then.

Whether Carroll is worth £35 million is another matter.

I have no problem with players moving for more money – football is their job, after all.

They are not dyed in the wool fans, they are paid employees.

None of the fans screaming Judas at the departing Carroll, Bent or Torres would turn down a job with better prospects, a hefty golden handshake and doubling of salary out of loyalty to their workmates and customers. They would hand in their notice, buy a round in the pub and be off.

So why should footballers be any different?

It would be nice, though, if they could be honest about it. They stopped being men of the people several million quid ago so we don’t need this matey flannel.

Tell it like it is – “better job, better money and a red Ferrari, so up yours, squire”.